Tuesday, April 19, 2005

I know it's trite to call something "really depressing"

but after reading about the counter revolution in Chile in 1973, I think the characterization is merited. The insurgency led by the now infamous dictator, General Augusto Pinochet, represented not only the renewal of old, economically oppressive policies but represented the new application of executions and "disappearances" of leaders of the "revolution from below" that had complemented (and sometimes even countered) the democratically elected Allende government. One woman, who was a worker at a textile mill that had been requisitioned from its owner, only to experience fatal repercussions from Pinochet's coup, said of the counterrevolutionary movement: "they have killed my dream...It was such a beautiful dream" (Winn, 252). Which brings us back to the depressing factor: this woman's absence of hope, caused by a brutal coup against hopeful ideals for democracy and economic equality. The Pinochet coup and dictatorship should make U.S. policymakers think twice about getting involved overseas--though this seems obvious, current events suggest our government continues to make old mistakes.

2 comments:

Alex said...

See this if you haven't before. And if you can find it.

The director calls 1967-1977 "The Third World War."

Anyway, having stumbled in here through the magic of the "next blog" button, I have to ask: are you a journalism major? 'Cause I thought it was J-school's job to beat that conscience out of you.

Elaine said...

Thanks for the tip. I'm a history major, so I still have a soul.